Used SUVs for sale

Are you in the market to buy a used SUV? From small hatchbacks toughened-up with extra plastic cladding, right up to huge seven-seater, family-friendly SUVs, there are plenty of used models that meet every driver’s budget and needs. Use BuyaCar to search for your perfect used SUV, buy or arrange finance online and arrange for it to be delivered to your door.

What is an SUV? 

Unhelpfully, there is no consistently applied, industry-wide definition of what an SUV – that’s short for Sports Utility Vehicle – actually is, but generally they are considered to be rugged-looking, taller cars that appear as though they might be capable of being driven off-road. Over the past decade, their popularity has soared with most car manufacturers offering at least two in their ranges, despite them being pricier than more traditionally shaped family cars from the same firms.

That popularity is in part down to them offering a higher level of perceived safety than a conventional hatchback, estate or MPV, giving drivers and passengers a higher seating position with a better view of what’s going on around them. They are often fitted with chunkier tyres, giving a little more protection against potholes, while some consider them to be more spacious and adaptable than conventional estates. Due to that additional height and chunkiness, they are usually less aerodynamic than more conventional, low-level cars, meaning running costs can be more expensive.

What is the difference between a crossover and an SUV?

Very little, these days, in part because the original distinction between crossovers and SUVs has largely been diluted. Both terms are American in origin, but while the SUV name tended only to be originally applied to serious off-road vehicles, the crossover label was attached to cars that merely looked the part.

Automotive evolution has meant that models such as today’s Land Rover Defender and Discovery, which are exceptionally capable off-road, are now closer in terms of construction to crossover’s original meaning, hence SUV has become a universal term. Either way, whether you are considering a used old-school 4x4 or a less-capable facsimile of one, chances are it will have been driven almost exclusively on normal roads.

Are there hybrid or electric SUVs?

Yes, is the short answer. One of the major downsides of SUVs is that they tend to use more fuel than regular models but this can be partly offset with hybrid or fully electric power. It’s not a niche Tesla has to itself with its Model Y and larger Model X, either as electric-only versions of the Mercedes G-Class and full-size Range Rover will be on UK roads before the end of 2024.

What’s more, because SUVs tend to be taller, that additional height provides extra space to package plenty of batteries, without impinging on interior space and flexibility. Plus, for those who are passionate about off-roading, electric motors produce significantly more pulling power with greater efficiency than petrol or diesel engines.